by Senior Airman Taylor Slater
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs June 4, 2021
U.S. Airmen from the 724th Air Mobility Squadron unload cargo during a Nodal Lightning exercise at Aviano Air Base, Italy, May 18. The exercise started with a simulated air attack followed by other attacks and injuries to teammates.
The 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing conducted its first Nodal Lightning exercise of 2021 at Ramstein AB and geographically separated units across the European theater from May 17-20.
“We integrate all our units through live, virtual and constructed events, taking into consideration the dynamics of each unit’s unique location,” said Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Barger, 521st AMOW Inspector General superintendent. “The result is a tailored exercise script to maximize the most from each exercise at each location.”
Nodal Lightning 21-1 is focused on assessing the effectiveness of the wing to operate in a contested environment and honing their skills through scenarios such as simulated air attacks, chemical attacks and unit operations in adverse conditions.
“For (Air Mobility Command) we do our wartime mission every day,” said Lt. Col. Bradley Powers, 521st AMOW Inspector General director of exercises and inspections. “What’s different about an exercise is that we kick it up a notch. We say, ‘Now do this when you have to respond to simulated attacks.’ ‘Do this when your communications are degraded.’ We provide that extra stress through realistically representing what would happen in wartime.”
New strategies implemented through Nodal Lightning 21-1 are Agile Combat Employment concepts such as operations in remote environments. For example, wing Airmen can be universally taught to recognize deficiencies in aircraft or hardware that would normally be a skill solely held by people of that career field.
U.S. Air Force Airman Jaden Boswell, 724th Air Mobility Squadron freight service technician and personnel accountability report team member during the Nodal Lightning exercise, reports over the radio at Aviano Air Base, Italy, May 18. PAR teams field data and provide information to leadership to develop strategies for defense. Photos by Airman 1st Class Thomas Keisler, 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
“This is all to prepare for the ever changing and sometimes unpredictable future environment of air mobility,” Barger said.
Much like Nodal Lightning 20-2 in October 2020, COVID-19 procedures and adjusting to varying host nation guidances factored into the wing’s plans for the exercise. Barger said planners were able to navigate these challenging circumstances by dividing units into designated teams, preventing them from being in close contact with other units and allowing for easy contact tracing.
“It’s the hard work of our exercise planners, who take those guidances and tailor their scenarios to each unit, that deserve the credit for making this happen,” Barger said.
According to Powers, the increase in real-world activity since October 2020 added another layer of challenge for the wing during the exercise.
“This (exercise) was a better test because we also had a lot of real-world work the units were trying to do,” Powers said. “Then I complicate their environment and bring those opportunities to demonstrate their ability to operate and accomplish the mission in a full spectrum readiness environment.”
Nodal Lightning exercises are just another way the 521st AMOW continues to grow and adapt with an ever-changing landscape.
“The Air Force I joined 20 years ago is not the same as it is today, and that evolution will not stop,” Barger said. “This exercise also gives newer Airmen that may not have experience in a readiness exercise a chance to test their resilience and agility.”
The 521st AMOW plans to host Nodal Lightning 21-2 in the fall.
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Patrick Kelly, 724th Air Mobility Squadron (AMS) aircraft services technician, left, buddy checks Airman Jaden Boswell, 724th AMS freight service technician during exercise Nodal Lightning, at Aviano Air Base, Italy, May 19. Nodal Lightning is an exercise conducted by the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing, which tests readiness in air mobility units around U.S. Air Forces in Europe.
U.S. Airmen with the 724th Air Mobility Squadron prepare for a Personnel Accountability Report check during exercise Nodal Lightning at Aviano Air Base, Italy, May 19. Nodal Lightning is a week-long readiness exercise for air mobility units around U.S. Air Forces in Europe.
U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Thomas Townsend, right, 724th Air Mobility Squadron (AMS) operations flight commander, provides first aid to U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Robert Latham, 724th AMS operations flight chief, during exercise Nodal Lightning at Aviano Air Base, Italy, May 18. Nodal Lightning is a readiness exercise for the 724th AMS to demonstrate how the team would operate in a contested environment.
U.S. Airmen with the 724th Air Mobility Squadron participate in a Nodal Lightning exercise at Aviano Air Base, Italy, May 19. Nodal Lightning is a simulated air and chemical attack followed by other scenarios that test the teams Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear response.
U.S. Airmen with the 724th Air Mobility Squadron provide first aid and buddy care during Nodal Lightning exercise at Aviano Air Base, Italy, May 19. Nodal Lightning is conducted by the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing, which tests readiness in air mobility units around U.S. Air Forces in Europe.
U.S. Air Force Airman Jaden Boswell, 724th Air Mobility Squadron freight service technician, conducts Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) checks during Nodal Lightning at Aviano Air Base, Italy, May 19. Boswell was one of two PAR teams during exercise Nodal Lightning.
An Airman from the 721st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron examines a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft’s wheels for contamination during Exercise Nodal Lightning 21-1 at Ramstein Air Base, May 19. Exercise Nodal Lightning 21-1 is an exercise focused on assessing the capabilities of the 521st Air Mobility Operations wing to operate in a contested environment, and honing those skills through scenarios such as simulated air attacks, chemical attacks and unit operations in adverse conditions.
Members of the 721st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron discuss procedures for a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft quick turn scenario during Exercise Nodal Lightning 21-1 at Ramstein Air Base, May 19. Some of the scenarios involved in the exercise were executing a unit’s worst case continuity of operations, Agile Combat Employment concepts, simulated strikes.
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